NEW Exploring the Russian Arctic: Franz Josef Land and the Kara Sea

NEW

Walrus hauled out, Franz Josef Land.

EX PLORING THE RUSSIAN ARCTIC: FRANZ JOSEF LAND AND THE KARA SEA

23 DAYS/22 NIGHTS | DATE: 2021 JUN. 29—ABOARD NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ENDURANCE CAT. 1 FROM $33,250 (FOR CURRENT RATES VISIT EXPEDITIONS.COM/FRANZ-RATES) Note: A Russian tourist visa is required.

EXPEDITION HIGHLIGHTS Sail the icy waters of the Kara Sea, only navigable for a few months of the year. Set foot on the world’s northernmost archipelago, Franz Josef Land, following in the path of a 2013 expedition by National Geographic’s Pristine Seas team. Seek out thriving wildlife—including polar bears, whales, walruses, and seabird colonies—and experience a pristine wilderness reached by few visitors. Explore along the sandy shores of Ostrov Isachenko, part of Russia’s Great Arctic State Nature Reserve, and search for polar bears. Learn about indigenous culture in Murmansk, Russia, and tour the world’s first nuclear-powered icebreaker. Franz Josef Land.

Russian Orthodox church, Murmansk.

ITINERARY AT A GLANCE Day 1-2: Oslo, Norway/ Tromsø/Embark Day 3: Norway’s Fjords Day 4: Murmansk, Russia Days 5–6: At Sea Days 7-9: Novaya Zemlya Days 10-11: Exploring the Kara Sea Days 12-14: Severnaya Zemlya Days 15-18: Franz Josef Land Day 19: At Sea Day 2 0: Murmansk Day 21: Norway’s Fjords Days 22-23: Tromsø/ Disembark/ Oslo

GLACIERS, MOUNTAINS & PURE WILDNESS

Since so many savvy travellers have already checked Alaska’s Inside Passage off their bucket list, we thought we’d up the ante on Alaskan adventure. Imagine if you could stand on a ship’s deck and cruise along the Himalayas—that’s, in effect, what you’ll do on this expedition. It heads from the Alaskan Panhandle up a spectacularly scenic coast studded with mountain ranges, including the Fairweathers, our Chief Expedition Officer, Trey Byus’ “favourite mountains in the world” to come face-to-face with the Hubbard Glacier. Then, there’s the jaw-dropping fjords of Prince William Sound—a place our team believes one could happily spend a week exploring. A score of rugged wildlife and history-rich islands to discover. And, to add further dimension to the idea of an uncommon Alaskan adventure, we’ll zig across the Bering Sea to Provideniya and zag back to conclude our voyage in the wild-hearted city of Nome.

Kayak Island.